HEALTH CARE REFORM: Why the ruckus?

It is undeniably clear that HEALTH CARE in the United States is broken. It is out of whack and unfortunately, many of our citizens are blinded by their fears, the hype of the lobbyists, political rhetoric, and special interests, many of which have been lining their pockets for years, fueling a system off-track with far-reaching implications on our health, economy, and well-being of our nation.

HOW DO YOU BEGIN CHANGING HEALTH CARE... (or anything else)???
Think about the changes you've headed up or participated in. They all have the same beginning. You get up in the morning and you START. You believe in something bigger than yourself. You look UP and out with resolute FAITH. You PLAN a first important STEP in the right direction. You take a LEAP. You RISK. The START is a new beginning. IMPERFECTIONS will be stepping stones. You learn as you go, but MOST IMPORTANTLY, the way will be OPENED for other steps to follow. President Obama, with an unwavering BELIEF appears focused on the START--- that critical first step toward reform of our broken system --- and it essential for all of us to see the significance.

Unless things change, they stay the same...or get worse.

One management principle I learned early in my career is that unless things change, they stay the same or get worse! It is scary to imagine the status quo with so much at stake and so many related things spiraling out of control. Rising premiums are just one symptom of our problems. I don't know about you, but my health care premium more than doubled in recent years --- I've never been sick, had a surgery, or put in a claim for anything more than a $30 prescription. ( for which I am deeply grateful! ). However, I wonder what has happened to those who have had to use their insurance policies?

When you have a broken system --- continuing to do the same thing you are doing that isn't working is insanity as Albert Einstein told us ---- investing more years of NO ACTION, NO CHANGE isn't tolerable --- and it is up to us at this point. We have to get involved and speak up. This first BOLD STEP may not be perfect, but we've got to start heading toward REFORM. Even if we get a few things right or get heading in a reform direction that will serve our citizens, our economy, and our country, we will be ahead. Change will be in the works. If you don't do anything else, get informed.

Why the ruckus?
MUST SEE VIDEO: Regardless of your current beliefs, take the time to watch this PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) program on Bill  Moyer's JOURNAL. You will learn why there is such a ruckus. Put everything away. Give this video your undivided attention and a beginner's mind. Take a closer look at the big picture of HEALTH CARE from the inside out.

"Profits Before Patients"   WATCH Video Now.

After you watch it, it's hard to imagine you won't want to share it with others. DO IT! We all must get informed, so we can objectively work to shape health care reform --- not scream about it or at one another. Instead, we need to invest our time, intellect, and hard work in ensuring the first critical BOLD STEP forward happens, accepting the personal responsibility we each own for forging this path. Ultimately, we have the power to shape the debate and the result --- and we have a President trying to help us do it.

Whenever, I am challenged by dramatic change, I look to people for counsel, who have actually achieved it. Nelson Mandela offers us encouragement with this piece of wisdom:

"It is always impossible until it is done."  --- Nelson Mandela

I would love to know your thoughts after watching this critical video conversation.

Regards,
Debbe

Debbe Kennedy
founder, Global Dialogue Center
author, Putting Our Differences to Work
The Fastest Way to Innovation, Leadership,
and High Performance | Berrett-Koehler 2008
www.puttingourdifferencestowork.com

Buy a Copy of Putting Our Differences to Work

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Comments

[John Renesch]

Hi Debbe!

This subject has many of us Americans deeply polarized and, for me at least, it is puzzling why those who oppose reform are so adamant about blocking any efforts to bring sanity back to our nation on this subject. There seem to be three main lightning rods that attract all the "voltage" - the idea of "socialized medicine" (which sounds a little like socialism which is sort of like communism), the age-old bugaboo of tax increases, and the idea of the government running anything that the private sector "should" do, never mind that VA health care is hands about private insurance coverage.

I see these all three of these as ideological fundamentalism, where the proponents refuse to examine their stances just like religious fundamentalists refuse to be open to anything new and make anyone who doesn't believe as they do to be sinners or the enemy.

This is a crisis of the ego, where attachment to dogmatic ideas gives some solace to the egoic mind even though the idea is outmoded, unproductive and even harmful.

[debbe kennedy]

Hi John,
Thank you for adding such valuable insights to this conversation. I agree with you whole-heartedly that we must look beyond ourselves and our affiliations in order to be the pioneers of the reform we badly need.

I keep hearing Socrates reaching our to us across time.

"Let him that would move the world, first move himself." Socrates

Thanks again for sharing your ideas and counsel.

Best...
Debbe

[Debbe Kennedy]

Another excellent New Documentary Film -"Money-Driven Medicine" by academy-award winning Alex Gibnery tells the doctors perspective and more... http://blip.tv/file/2407731